RoadVitals

2004 Porsche 911 Carrera

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Jan 26, 2023
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Dec 11, 2020
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Porsche 911 Carrera, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 364 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine444.4%
  • Airbags222.2%
  • Driver assistance111.1%
  • Steering111.1%
  • Suspension111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
20E091000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

Dec 11, 2020
584 units potentially affected
The defect: Ohlins USA, Inc (Ohlins) is recalling certain Front Struts, part number POS 5N20. These struts were sold as part of Ohlins strut kits part number POZ MN02, intended for installation on 1999-2005 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 996), and 2001-2006 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 996) and kit part number POZ MN05, intended for installation on 2005-2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 997), and 2006-2013 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 997). The pin of the strut may experience excessive stress during maximum steering, possibly resulting breakage of the pin.
The risk: If the pin fails, it will cause separation of the strut from the vehicle, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Ohlins will notify owners, and dealers will request the return of all unsold kits containing the subject part from dealer/distributor inventory for a full refund. All owners who purchased one of the kits (POZ MN02 or POZ MN05) will receive replacement front struts (POS 5N20 or POS 5N21 - These parts are interchangeable), along with new top mount interface solutions, free of charge. The recall began December 22, 2020. Owners may contact Ohlins customer service at 1-800-336-9029.
Tenneco AutomotiveView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2004 Porsche 911. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH he heard a loud creaking sound coming from the front-end. The contact stated that he was entering the highway and the sound became louder while speeding to merge. The contact stated that after driving over some slight imperfections in the roadway, the front-end started pulling to the left and right with force. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to keep the vehicle in the lane. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact exited the highway and drove the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ID
11503856
Incident
Jan 25, 2023
Mileage
106,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND FAILED TO RESTART AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (IMS) FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10610822
Incident
May 15, 2012
Mileage
28,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jun 12, 2012
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND TAPPED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/2/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A TECHNICIAN DOWNLOADED THE DATA FROM THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO DETERMINE THE ROLE OF ANY VEHICLE EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION IN THE ACCIDENT. PORSCHE OF ARLINGTON, THE DEALER, DELIVERED THE DOWNLOADED DATA TO PORSCHE NA, WHERE THE DATA IS ANALYZED. PORSCHE STATED THAT ANY DOCUMENTATION OF PORSCHE'S INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE INCIDENT WAS PROPRIETARY. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN TWO CITATIONS FOR VEHICLE NEGLIGENCE AND INTENDS TO CONTEST THEM BOTH. THE CONSUMER NEEDS ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DATA TO DO SO. UPDATED 08/06/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10461351
Incident
Jun 11, 2012
Mileage
57,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 10, 2010

CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OF 2004 PORSCHE 911 4S W/O WARNING. WELL DOCUMENTED EARLY VERSION OF MODEL 996 INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURE REQUIRING COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. KNOWN PRODUCT DEFECT SUBSEQUENTLY CORRECTED IN LATER VERSIONS. NO NOTIFICATION BY MANUFACTURER OR DISTRIBUTOR TO CONSUMERS. HAZARDOUS AND COSTLY MAJOR PRODUCT DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10365249
Incident
Oct 2, 2010
Mileage
29,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 19, 2009

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004, PORSCHE, 911 CARRERA. THE CONTACT STATED HIS ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO THE INTERMITTEN SHAFT FAILURE. CONTACT STATED HE WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH WHEN HE STARTED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. CONTACT THEN STARTED TO EXIT OF F THE HIGHWAY AND DOING SO ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED COMING ON. CONTACT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE INTERMITTEN SHAFT FAILED AND THEY WILL BE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,700

NHTSA ID
10288919
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
9,700 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 12, 2009
Crash reported

AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPERATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258432
Incident
Feb 12, 2009
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 2004 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA STALLED WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS, BUT THE CODE SHOWED THAT CYLINDER SIX WAS FAULTY. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER TEN MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THEY PUT THE VEHICLE IN DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT SHOWN UP WITH ANY EXPLANATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL UNEXPLAINABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10138102
Incident
Aug 16, 2004
Mileage
3,389 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSTR 2642

Porsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.300.000

SPTL 2607a

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

SPTL 2607

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

13/26

ENGINE

Allocation of Approved Engine Oils MY 2027 (13/26)

TSTR 2641

PiUS Update Information Software Version: 3.2

TSTR 2641

PiUS Update Information Software Version: 3.2

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Porsche 911 Carrera by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025000—
2024000—
2023010—
2022010—
2021010—
2020150—
2017120—
2016000—
2015000—
2014310—
2013311—
2012030—
2011010—
2010010—
2009010—
2008010—
2007010—
2006010—
2005310—
2004Viewing710—
2003320—
2002430—
2001110—
2000220—
1999132038.5
1998000—
1997100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.